She was privately educated at the independent Cheltenham Ladies' College and read mathematics at the University of Kent.

Later, she edited the Daily Express (May 1998–January 2001), leaving soon after the newspaper was bought by Richard Desmond, who replaced her with Chris Williams.

[citation needed] Boycott has presented the BBC Radio 4 programme A Good Read.

Boycott made several appearances on Newsnight Review and other cultural and current affairs programmes, where the fact that she is a recovering alcoholic was discussed.

The same month she was one of five volunteers who took part in a BBC series of three programmes entitled Famous, Rich and Homeless, about living penniless on the streets of London.

[7] In June 2018, Boycott was nominated for a life peerage by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.